Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb détaler

Introduction to the verb détaler

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The English translation of the French verb “détaler” is “to bolt” or “to scamper”. The infinitive form is pronounced as “day-tah-lay”.

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Détaler originates from the Old French word “estaler” which meant “to flee” or “to escape”. It is most often used in everyday French to describe the action of running away quickly or escaping from a situation.

Example 1: Le lapin a détale dès qu’il a vu le renard.
Translation: The rabbit bolted as soon as it saw the fox.

Example 2: Les voleurs ont détale quand ils ont entendu la police arriver.
Translation: The thieves scampered when they heard the police arriving.

Example 3: Le chien a détale après avoir reniflé quelque chose d’intéressant.
Translation: The dog bolted after sniffing something interesting.

Détaler – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of détaler

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	détale	Je détale	I bolt / I run off
tu	détales	Tu détales	You bolt / You run off
il	détale	Il détale	He bolts / He runs off
elle	détale	Elle détale	She bolts / She runs off
on	détale	On détale	One bolts / One runs off
nous	détalons	Nous détalons	We bolt / We run off
vous	détalez	Vous détalez	You (plural) bolt / You (plural) run off
ils	détalent	Ils détalent	They (masculine) bolt / They (masculine) run off
elles	détalent	Elles détalent	They (feminine) bolt / They (feminine) run off